Alternating-current-motor control.



E. F. W. ALEXANDBRSON. ALTEBNATING CURRENT MoToB CONTROL.

APPLIoA'xIoN FILED JUNI: 1, 190B.

` Patented Jan.y 18, 19110. 2 SHEETS-Salim: z.

7d AA A* c' yio , than a two-motor the induced armature ERNST F. W. ALEXANDERSON, AOIF SCHENEC TADY, NEW YORK, Assmann. lro GNERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

ALTERIATING-CRRNT-MTOR CGNTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent,y

Application filed June l., 1908. Serial No, 435,858.

To all whom'it may Concern." y

Be it. known that I, ERNST F. lV. Anni;- ANnnRsoN, acitizen ot' the United States, residing at, Schenectady, county of Schonen tady, in the State. ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve,n ments in Alternating- Current Motor Control, ot' which the following isa speoiiieation.

` My invention relaties to the control ot' alternating-current motors of the, eommutator typefand particularly to motors arranged lfor control as described in prior applications of mine, in which the arn'iatnres ot' the motors are short-'eircuited so as to operate as repulsion motors for low speeds, while for high speeds the short-circuit. is opened, and a voltage impressed on the armatures. Then thus opcratinfr, I term the motors series repulsion7 motors. i

lt linel been the practice heretofore to use four-motor equipments Yfor alternating-eurl ront, the principal reason being that since i the armatures oit alternating-current motors iannot readily be wound for as high voltage yas the armatures of direct-current motore, because of connnutation ditliculties, it. is dei Sirable to treat two motors with the" arma- I 'tures connected in series as a unit, and a rei serve of motors must always exist, which can be used in case of emergency. However, a fouranotor equipn'ient is more expensive l equipment, with the same l l'aggregate.horse-power. lVitli the type of motor control above nientioned, it is pousible, by a suitable arrangement of windings i and cut-out switches, to `operate one motor, I which normally is connected in series with V the other motor, on the :tull potential ot' the i motor circuit. For instance, assume thatv the l motors are ope 1ating with their normal con l iiection, two in Series, on a voltageot six hundred volto. With Such a connection,each motor would besubjccted to 300 volts, of' which about volts would be at the armature terminals. Now, if the ii'iducing Orl compensating winding of the motor is given twice the eii'ectivc number of turns of` the i arn'iature, then if a single motor is connected in circuit. with its armature short-circuited, i voltage will bejipe proximately 300 volts, which is not too great for proper commutation. Aside from rendering it possible to operate a single motor in thiev .manner on the line voltage, theorrangement oi' the compensating winding weak current, and then Switching it over into the armature cir* enit for high speed operation, so as to in` lei-ease .the current in yrelative to that iii the the exciting winding inducing winding und armature, and thereby to y motor field and prevent the motor from running at too high a speed. When one of the motors is cut out, it is desirable that the lield ot' the other motor should be strengthened to increase its torque and reduce its speed. This result can bel obtained by so proporf tioning the exciting windings,y that normally they are connected in parallel with each.

strengthen th e Patenten aan. 18,1910.

inducing winding, and consequently other, While the armatures and compensating windings of the two motors are in series. Thus,v under normal conditions the current in the exciting windingr is only'half that of the current in the compensating winding, while, when one motor iS out out, the current inthe exciting winding ot' the other is the same as that :in the compensating winding. lf, when one motor is cut out,` the armature sliortrircuit ot the other inotor were opened,--or, in other words, if the usual I high speed coni'iections were established, an excessive voltage would be impressed on the armature.

Une :feature ofmy invention, accordingly,

coi-mistig in the combination, with a pair ot motors which have. their armatures normally in series, of a control system arranged to slioit-cii.cuit 'the armaturesl lo-r low-Speedv operation and to open the slioi't.-rircuii; and impress a voltage on the armatures for highspeed operation, a cnt-out switch 'for cutting either motor out ot circuit', and .means `for preventing the establishment ol the highspeed coi'mections when one motor is cut ont. My invention t'urther `c'oinprisee a cut-out switch arranged, when moved to cutout either motor, to short-circuit the motor armatures ou thei'nselves, instead of leaving' them short-circuited on each other, as in normal operation.r y y My invention further comprises certain relative connections of the. motor windings.

- tor operation, may,

Vthe inducing'windingsof a pair of arranged in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are diagrams of the normal starting and running connections; Fig.

(Sfis a similar diagram of the starting connections with one motor cut out; and Fig. 7 is a similar diagram with the other motor cut out. v

In the drawings A A represent the arma tures, B B the exciting windings, and C C' s single- The windings C C', which act as inducing windings for repulsion-1110- with equal propriety, be termed the compensating windings, when the motors are operating as series-repulsion motors at high speed. T o avoid unnecessary words, I shall simply term these windings the inducing windings, with theh nderstanding that the terln lneans simply a inding which produces a magnetomotive force in line with that of the armature.

l) represents a transformer for supplying current to the motors, E represents a starting resistance, and l4` a resistance which is used in making certain transfer connections, 1I represents a master controller, which is shown diagramatically with its contacts developed on a piane surface. troller,controlsthe motors through 1nagnetically-actuated switches or contaetors t to I". Certain of these contaeto'rs are provided with interlocking contacts 2 to i, to insure .the proper sequence of operations.

K represents the cut-out switch which, like the master controller, is shown with its contacts developed on a plane surface. This switch comprises eight main contact fingers to las, and two auxiliary contacts la.

-lV ith the exrcptionof the cut-out switch and one additional finger'on the master controller, the arrangement ot' the rontrol tem is the same as that disclosed in my former VAapplication, Serial No. 409,271, filed phase motors.

January 4, 1908, but this system and the cirtrol switch cuit connections which it produces will be described briefly here, in order t facilitateI the understaiuliug of my present invention.

The running positions of the master con- H are indicated by four dotted 4. iVhen the switch Il lines numbered 1 to 'is moved to its first running position, indicated by dotted` line 1, a circuit is closed from transformer D, through contact fingers h and 11,1, which are connected together through auxiliary contacts c on cut-out switch K, to contact finger h2 and contactor I1, which is accordingly energized and closes the motor circuit. At the same time, a cir cuit is closed through contact fingers h and 3, through. oontactor 1*,.Which short-circuits the motor armatures on each other. The circuit-connections shown in Fig. 2 are consequently established, and may be traced as follows: from transformer D through contacts of contacter Il, resistance E, con tacts k1 and 7a2 of the cut-out switch, inducing Vwinding C1, contacts 7c" and/c, inducing windin C, then through exciting windings B and 1 in parallel, the upper terminals of these two windings being connected together through contacts k3 and k, to cont-act of contactor 1*, to ground. It will be noted that the connection from the lower terminal of the actuating winding of contactor I* to ground is made through upper contact i5 of contactor I5, and lower contact 3 of contactor I3. Thepurpose of this connection will hereinafter a pear. At starting both contactors I3 and are denergid, so that contacts i and i are. closed. en switch H is moved to its second position, indicated by dotted line 2, the only change is the energizing of-contactor I, which short-circuits resistance E, leaving the connections as shown in Fig. 3. This is the last of the low-speed connections. As the switch H -is moved from its second to itsmthird' running position, the latter of which is indicated by dotted line 3, several operations of the contactorsresult, producing several transitional connections before establishing the running connections corresponding to the third position of switch H. Contacts h5 and h are simultaneously energized, but the contacter l5 connected to contact finger h5 is not at first actuated, since its circuit is open at the up er contact i4 of contacter I4. Contacter 'I2 is, however, energized, thereby establish-v ing the connection from the junction of exciting windings B4 and inducing windings C, through resist-ance F, to an intermediate point on transformer D. Nothing furthera happens` until contact finger h3 is dener-i gized, when contacter I* drops. The drop': ping of contactor I* causes contacter I to" pick up, the circuit being closed throu h the contact fingers 11.1 and It, contacter 5, up-

"per-...contact 2"/and Alower contacts. The

picking up of contacter I5 short-circuits the resistance F, and establishes the connections which are t-he running connections for the third positiono the master switch H. These connections are shownin Fig. 4. The successive operations of contactors 12,1* and I follow automatically -4in their proper Scquence,because` of their interlocking con-A nections and contacts. .'Wlien switch H is moved from its third to its fourth, and final posit-ion, contact finger k7 is energized, but contactor I3 its circuit is opened by the lower contact i5. As soon as contact finger h5 leaves its movroo4 does not at once pick up, sinceA 3 and 4. Consequently,

connections established by the master switch cut-out switch K.

'As soon as contactor I3 -era tion, while able contact, contacter I5 opening the short-circuit around resistance It. .The closing of lower contact ener* gizes contacter l, which picks up. Contact linger l1. has been y but contacter I2 does not fall .until after contacter Is picks up, on account ofjthe maintaining circuit formed from the llower terminal of contactor I2, through upper contact i and contactz't to Contact tngerfat. picks up, this circuit 1s broken, and contacter I2 trips, thereby establishinf the final running connections shown in I1 ig. 5.

The purpose of the particular arrange ment of interlocking contacts, above described, need not be considered in detail, since it forms no part of my present invention. It is to be noted, however, that while the armatures of the motors are short-cir cuited in positions l and 2 ot' the master switch, the short-circuit is open in positions in order to prevent an excessive voltage being impressed on the armature of a single'motor when the other is out out, it is essential that the high-speed in its third and fourth positions should not be established. It is to prevent the establishment of the high-speed connections that auxiliary contacts 7c are provided on the These contacts, when the cut-out switch is in its normal position with both motors in circuit, connect toget-her contacts k and i of the master con troller, so that contact finger /L is at all times connected to transformer D. IVhen, howei'cr, the cut-out switch K is thrown in either direction from its normal position, in .order to cnt ont one motor or the other, contact /z is opcn-circuited, so that Contact finger h1 is the only contact finger of the master con troller which is then connected. to transformer D. Consequently, if the master controller is moved beyond tion, all the contactors and the motor circuit is establishment of the high-speed connections is prevented when either motor is cut out. The circuit changes, produced by throwing' the switch K to either of its other positions, will be obvious from an inspection of the switch connections taken in connection with lili' 6 and 7, which two figures show each ol`n .lo motors in turn out out. It will be noted that in either extreme position of the cutout switch, each motor is short-circuited on itself, through contacts 7c' and las, instead ot' beingf short-circuited through the other armature as in normal operation. It `will further be noted that the two exciting windings are in parallel in normal op-A the inducing windings and armatures are in so that the current in cach exciting; winding is one-half that are deenergized, open. Thus, the

its second posiis denergized, l -in' the inducing denergized before this,

l l l l l l l l r torque of the motor is shortlcircuitsaid winding; but that when either motor is cut out, the exciting winding of the other motor is in series with the inducing winding, so` that the same current `flows through both, and consequently the l increased and its speed diminished; f f I do not desire to limit myself to the par ticula1-eonst1uction and arrangement loit parts here shown, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which are within the scope of my invention.

`What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination with a pair l or alter-4 nating-current motors of the-'commutator type having their armatures normallyvconnected in series, a control system arranged to short-circuit said armatures tor liar-speed operation and toy open the short-circuit and impress a voltage on said armatures for high-speed operation, a cut-out switch arranged to cnt either ot said motors out of circuit, and means for preverdingthc estab lishment of the high-speed connections when one motor is ont out. y

,2. In combination with a hating-current motors ot the commutator type having their armatures l'iorinally connected in series, a control system arrai'ipjed to arn'iatnres for low-spoed operation and to open the impress a Voltage on said armaturestor high-speed operation, a eut-ont switch arf,

ranged to cut either of said motors out of circuit, and means controlled by the. cnt-out` 3. In combinationlwith a pair oil alter-r nating-current motors of the wnnnutator type having their 'armatures normally con nected in series, a' control system arranged to short-circuit said armatures for lo\v-speed operation and to open the impress a voltage on said armatures ttor high-speed operation, a cut-out switch arranged to cut either of said motors out ot circuit, and auxiliary contacts on the cutout switch controlling?. nections of the control system.

4. In combination with a pair oit alternating-current motors o'f the connnutator type liavillg their armatures norn'ially connected in series, a control system arranged toshortcircuit said armatures on cach other for low speed operation and to open the short-circuit and impressa voltage on said armatures for high-speed operation, and a cut-out switch arranged to sl'iort-circuit each armature directly on itself.

5. In combination with a. pair of alternating-current motors of the connnutator having their armatures normally connected in series and their exciting 'windings in par pair ot altere.

short-circuit and short-circuit andI tyre.

il@ f ree allel, a control system ar anged to short-circuit said armatures on cach other for lowspeed operation and to open the short-circuit and impress a voltage on said armatures for` high-speed operationland a cutout switch arranged to short-circuit each armature directly on itself and to open the circuit of eitlicr exciting windingsk 6. In combination withapair of alternating-current motors of the commutator type having inducing and exciting windings on their stators and having their armatures normally connected in series, their exciting windings in parallel, and their inducingr windings in series, a control system arranged to short-circuit said armatures on each other for low-speed operation and to open the short-circuit and impress a voltage on said armatures for high-speed operation, and a cut-out switch arranged to short-circuit each armature directly on itself and to open the circuits ot` inducing and exciting windings on either motor. v

7. In combination with a pair of alternating-current motors of the commutator type having their armatures normally connected in series, a control system arranged to shortcircuit said armatures on each other forlowspeed operation and to open the short-circuit and impress a'voltage on said armatures for highf-spened operation, a cutfout switch ar- 'ranged to short-circuit each armature (lirectly on itself. and means for preventing the establishment of the high-speed connections when one motor is cnt out.

S. In combination with a 4pair of alternathug-current. motors of the commntator type having their larmatures normally connected in series and their exciting windings in parallel, a control system arranged to short-.circuit said armatures on each other for lowspeed operation and to open the short-circuit and impress a voltage on said armatures for high-speed operation, a cut-out switch arranged to short-circuit each armature directly on itself and to open the circuit of either exciting winding, and means for preventing the establishmentof the highspeed connections whenone motorvis cut out.

9. In combination with a pair of alternating-current motors of the commntator type having inducing and exciting windings on their stator and havingtheir armatures normally connected in series, their exciting windings in parallel, and their inducing windings in series, a control system arrange( to short-circuit said armatures on each other for low-speed operation and to open the short-circuit and impress a voltage on said armatures for high-speed operation7 a cut out switch arranged to short-,circuit each armature directly on itself and to o en the circuits of inducing and exciting vwindings| on either motor, and means for preventing the establishment Aof the high-speed connections when one motor is cut out.

In witness whereof, II have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of May, 1908.

` ERNST F. W. ALEXNDERSON.

W'itnesses i HELN OXFORD, BENJAMIN B. HUN. 

